October 29, 2007 - Accuray Inc. recently announced that it is partnering with The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center to launch a prospective clinical study to compare between outcomes of surgery and CyberKnife radiosurgery in early-stage operable lung cancer treatment.

In the past several years evidence has grown showing excellent outcomes in the treatment of lung tumors with high-dose radiation delivered in three or four treatments. Study results on operable patients treated by these short courses have demonstrated survival rates and local control rates similar to those of traditional surgery. As the medical community moves toward adoption of more minimally invasive alternatives to treatment, data that compare outcomes of surgery to less invasive treatment options, such as radiosurgery, become extremely important.

Sites from around the world will participate in this 1,200-patient study, with coordination and oversight by the M. D. Anderson team. Patients in the study will be randomly assigned to traditional surgery or CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery for their treatment. Patient accrual is expected to begin in early 2008.